ABSTRACT

This chapter provides evidence of continued importance of algae as nutritional supplements to functional food applications for health benefits. An increasing demand for health food applications in the global market can be satisfied by exploring algae as one of the possible sources of functional food and nutraceutical ingredients and also novel bioactive compounds for human health benefits. Algae are used as whole cell biomass and its extracts are used in various nutraceutical and pharmaceutical products. Algae are classified as photosynthetic microorganisms found in both fresh and marine habitats. Microalgae are grown in photo-autotrophic, heterotrophic and mixotrophic conditions using raceway and photobioreactors for biomass production for industrial applications. Food safety is important to algal biotechnology and bioprocess as it requires precise consideration when microalgae are grown in open and closed systems for biomass and other products of interest due to the possible contamination with other competitive microorganisms.